COLUMBIA --- A dean at the University of South Carolina says a new partnership with Chinese educators will bring the state both education-related and economic benefits.
The initiative, called the Confucius Institute, will provide education about Chinese language, culture, and society to South Carolina college students, Mary Anne Fitzpatrick, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, wrote in an op-ed submitted to The Associated Press on Saturday.
The project, made possible through partnerships with a major Chinese university and the Chinese Ministry of Education, will "allow South Carolinians to capture greater economic benefits from the state's growing trade with China and the East Asia region," Ms. Fitzpatrick wrote.
"Even in today's difficult economic times, exports to other countries are a bright spot in South Carolina's economy," she wrote. "The world has discovered the value of products that are made in South Carolina."
The institute also will let the university partner with the state Department of Commerce to provide language and cultural training for those who do business in China.
"We must ensure that members of our current and future business communities have access to extensive knowledge about other areas of the world," Ms. Fitzpatrick wrote. "Success in international business comes not merely from understanding market forces in other countries but also ... having a strong understanding of our trading partners' language, culture, and traditions."
Ms. Fitzpatrick says more than 60 South Carolina students studied or interned in China last year, and she hopes that will increase.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
